Copyrighting an image

[tvrbob]

I need to protect the ownership of an image. The image is an original hand drawn work created specifically for its current owner who has digitalised it for business use.

There are companies on the web who charge for copyright protection such as this one. When I read what they offer is doesn't appear to be much more than a 'proof' of the date that the work was registered with them. I have heard that placing an image in a solicitors safe where it is also registered is enough to prove first ownership.

Can anyone offer advice about how I should protect this image?

[HiRich]

There are some good resources on UK copyright via Google. Things to bear in mind are:

Is it copyrightable?
Almost certainly yes in this case.

Can you prove copyright?
Check the web resources. I suspect as copy certified/held by your solictior may be more than adequate. The old trick was to mail yourself a copy by registed post and retain it unopened (with the date stamp visible) although I'm not sure this is satisfactory nowadays.
There are organisations/agencies that will manage copyright, but I doubt it's worth it for you.
So a bit of checking is necessary here.

Have you declared your copyright claim?
On the master you should try to sign it.
The figital file is a bit more of an issue. Photoshop does have plug-ins for this (Digimarc), so I would ask the Client to include this in the master file.
Also, most file formats allow for metadata. Specifically this includes a copyright notice, artist/creator, and can include contact details. It would be helpful to have these included, although they can be easily stripped (deliberatley or accidentally)
You should also ask the Client to include a copyright notice every time it is used. This can be by the photo or at the bottom of the page (print or web), can be in very small type, and might take the form of "Image of Winged Horse of Chav Tat (c) tvrbob"

Are You Traceable?
There's little point of claiming copyright if you can't be traced.
As I've already said, you can include contact details in the image file metadata.
If you have a web site, you could create a page including an image of the illustration (and any others you do), and beside it:
- Original digital file name
- Descriptive title
- Copyright holder (as included in the file or written on the master)
Get the site/page on Google and you've increased the chances that a Google search will take them to your page.

An incomplete answer, but it should help a bit.

[RRH]

Have a chat with Adam Messulam @ Messulam and Co- they're Patent & Copyright Attorneys. 0208 421 8197. They handle all my Intellectual Property 'incidents'

[ukvoyager.info]

As with all IPR, it is only worth what you are prepared to spend defending it. Registering and so forth is only worth while if you are prepared to follow through with any claim.

[deckster]

HiRich said:

The old trick was to mail yourself a copy by registed post and retain it unopened (with the date stamp visible) although I'm not sure this is satisfactory nowadays.

Has this ever worked? Surely all it proves is that you can mail an unsealed envelope to yourself!

[tvrbob]

deckster said:

HiRich said:

The old trick was to mail yourself a copy by registed post and retain it unopened (with the date stamp visible) although I'm not sure this is satisfactory nowadays.

Has this ever worked? Surely all it proves is that you can mail an unsealed envelope to yourself!

No this one isn't satisfactory and will not hold up in court according to my investigations. Signing the original artwork and registering it into a solicitor's safe appears to be the simplest way.

[HiRich]

deckster said:

Has this ever worked? Surely all it proves is that you can mail an unsealed envelope to yourself!

It used to work, and was a standard trick for musicians. But as bob says, probably not appropriate nowadays.